"up! everyone up!"

duskhoney woke up to leopardstrike's panicked scream.

the black mottled tom's nose filled with the fumes of smoke, and his fur stood straight up.

the fire reached here?! how??

leopardstrike and duskhoney's eyes locked, and he could tell just how scared leopardstrike was.

how bad was the fire?

duskhoney jumped up and sprinted to leopardstrike's side, grabbing and pulling cats to the entrance of the den.

"hurry, we're running out of time!" leopardstrike yowled, his voice thick with fear.

"how bad is the fire?" duskhoney panted, pushing the last warrior out the entrance.

"take a look and see!" leopardstrike meowed, moving out of the entrance way.

duskhoney's view was... all flames. it was so close to reaching the warrior's den. and the nursery was no where to be seen! it was in the middle of the tall flames.

"this... this is all my fault!" duskhoney gasped, backing away.

leopardstrike tilted his head. "what do you mean? no it's not!"

he shook his head wildly. "leopardstrike, i saw the fire while i was hunting! it was in twoleg place.. but i thought it went out!"

leopardstrike gasped. "oh, duskhoney, that doesn't mean it's your fault! how could you have possibly known it would reach camp? what could you have done to stop it, anyway?"

duskhoney opened his mouth to say something, but his brother continued to talk.

"and what are we standing around for? now isn't the time for talking, we need to leave right now!"

the two quickly bounded out of the warrior's den, but only to be met with fire everywhere.

the entrance had been swallowed by the flames...

how would they escape?

leopardstrike suddenly turned to duskhoney. "hey, look! there's a fallen tree right there- if you jump onto that, you'll be able to jump over the flames! go, quick!"

duskhoney turned to his brother in bewilderment. "b-but you're coming too, right?"

leopardstrike looked to his paws. "duskhoney, as deputy, it's my duty to get everyone out of camp before i can think of my own safety. i love you very much, brother, but this... this is fate."

duskhoney backed up, trembling. leopardstrike wanted him to leave him? as if!

"i can't leave you, leopardstrike! you're all i have left!"

leopardstrike's eyes lit up. "i have an idea!"

hope crawled into duskhoney. maybe there was a chance?

"duskhoney, flamestar is dead. the leader's den was the first den swallowed by flames. do you know what that makes me? leader."

duskhoney looked at his brother. "where are you going with this...?"

leopardstrike looked back at his paws. "you said you would have nothing left, but... duskhoney, i'm naming you my deputy. if there are any cats left of orcaclan, lead them to safety, my brother. you're strong and smart, i know you can do it!"

duskhoney gasped, and he began to tremble again. a sob threatened to escape, but he held it back. "are you crazy? just come on, leopardstrike! i know you can make that jump, too!"

leopardstrike sighed, looking around. "go, duskhoney. and do not make me say it again. this is my destiny, not yours. you are not to die in this fire. now go!"

with his last word, leopardstrike gave duskhoney a huge push into the direction of the fallen tree.

but duskhoney didn't want to go. he wanted to die here with his dear brother.

"leopardstrike... i'll always remember you. i love you so much, please try and escape..." duskhoney called, his eyes filling with tears.

leopardstrike blinked at duskhoney warmly. "i love you, too."